Refrigerant control system



March 2, .1954 H. J. MATTEsoN 2,670,609

REFRIGERANT CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l En; 'l'. s

A free/ 25% March 2, 1954 H. J. MATTESON REFRIGERANT CONTROL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l5 1950 /Nl/E/Y Toe, #man J M4 Tft-50N Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERANT CONTROL SYSTEM Harold I. Matteson, Glendale, Calif., assigner'v to General Controls Co., Glendale, Calif., a corporation of California g Application Marcli1'5, 1950, Serial No.. 149,693

1'1" Claims.

Mypresent invention relates to refrigeration` systems of the mechanical type wherein a conventional. expansion valve, having means responsive. to the temperature at the outlet of the cooling unitr is employed for maintaining the desired degree of superheat in the unit. In a multipleunit refrigeration. system of this type it is customary to provide an individual. expansion valve for each unit, and a thermostatieally controlled valve ahead of each expansion valve for controlling ow of. refrigerantto the unit. in. accordance with the temperature desired. in the space cooled by the' unit.

This inventionr in one of. its phases, relates more particularly to improvements in multipleuni't refrigeration systems of the general charactor described, and it is an object of the invention.. to eliminate the conventional thermostatically controlled valve andl to effect thermostatic control of the refrigerant through the medium of the expansion valve itself... I. accomplish this obectv by the provision of. a thermostatic valve, responsive to space temperature and interposed between. the. expansion valve and the cooling unit, through which refrigerant normally can. pass substantially unrestrictedly; and means for diverting flow oi refrigerant through this thermostatic Valve into thermal-transfer relation to the temperature responsive means of the ex.i pension valve when the cooling requirements ot the space arey satisfied, so that closing of. the expansion valve is thereby effected.

Another object oi? this invention is to provide a novel thermos-tatie control valve which', while not so limited, has partieuiar utility in a System of the character'V described. in the. preceding ob"A ject..

Another object is to provide a valve having athcrrnostati'e operator of the fluid-charged type, and means operable in the event of leakage of the' thermostatic nuid for locking thev valve in a predetermined. safe position; an ancillary obiectbeing to effect.- the locking operation automatically'.

For tuli understanding of the invention, and further appreciation. of its objects and advantages, reference is to be had to the following detailed. description` and accompanying drawing, and. to the appended claims.

In. the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a;v thermostate control. valve according' to my invention Figline: 2 is. a modined torni. ci the valve shown ma ...1; andi 31 is. a generally' schematic et a and including a thermostatic control valve of the type shownin Figs. l and2.

Referring rst more particularly to Fig. l, the numeral ll indicates a valve casing having an inlet I2 and a main outlet I3. In the inlet I2 is a connector comprising a flared tube I4, solderedto 'the casing, and a cooperating threaded iitting I5. Between the inlet and main outlet of. the casing is a pair of chambers I6 and IT, communication. between. which is controlled by a disk-like closure I8 cooperable with anY annular seat I9 formed. around the entrance to the upper chamber I l. Threaded in an opening through the bottom wall of the lower chamber IB isa hollow iitting 20 whose upper end forms a lower seat 2| for the closureL The closure I8 is biased upwardly by they force of a compression spring. 22; theY opposite ends of this spring ntting in an annular groove in the underside of the closure and in a recess in the bottom of litting. 2U'. so that the springv also serves. to prevent lateral movement of the closure of more than a sight amount.

Threaded in an opening, above chamber I1, through a thickened portion ofV the-'valve casing is a member 23 to which an elongated hollow cylinder 2.4- is secured, as. by solder; the cylinder having on its outside ay plurality of. fins 25 to increase thermal transfer between it and the surrounding atmosphere. Fitting in the topof cylinder 24, and secured thereto by solder, is a cup-shaped member 2G in whose. upper end or mouth a centrally-apertured disk 21 is soldered. Depending. from this diskA is an expansible-con-L tractible metallic bellows 28 having an integrally formed bottom wall 29; the open upper end of the bellows being joined to. disk 21 by soder.

The member 2'3 at thel lower end of cylinder 24has-a central opening 3l! which communicates with the interior of another expansible-contractible metallicy bellows 3l" secured by its openA top end. to the. underside of member 23 and having an integral bottom wall 32. Through the' bottorn wall of the cup-shaped member 2d is another opening 33, so that. the interior' of' member 26 (around bellows 2%) the interior of cylinder 24, and the interior oi bellows 3l together form a continuous sealed chamber which is indicated as a whole by numeral 34.

The chamber 34 containsthermally expansive fluid. as indicated by the short horizontal lines, which in the structure illustrated is preferably in thev forniV of a complete or solid ll of liquid such asV ethyl ether.HL However, as will be obvious to Workers in the art, the thermally expansive iiuid may, under some conditions, be an elastic charge or partial ll of volatile liquid such as methyl chloride.

Adjustably threaded on the upper part of the cup-shaped member 26 is a cap 35 between whose top wall and the end wall 29 of bellows 28 is a compression spring 36; the foot 31 of a cylindrical member or plunger 38 being interposed between the spring and the bellows end-wall. The plunger 38 is reduced in diameter at its upper end to for-m a stem 39 which extends freely through an opening in the top of the cap; the outer end of the stem being grooved to receive a snap-ring or C- washer 40. To guard against entry of moisture or dirt, seals of the O-ring type are provided between cap 35 and member 26 and between stem 39 and the cap, as indicated at 4I and 42 respectively.

The parts are shown in Fig. l in the positions which they assume when the temperature of the ud in the thermostatio chamber 34 is somewhat higher than that for which the operator is set; the lower bellows 3| being fully expanded so that closure I 8 is thereby held in tight engagement with its lower seat 2l; the upper bellows 2B being slightly compressed so that plunger 38 is raised and there is clearance between washer 4I) and the top of cap 35.

The force of spring 36 urging wall 29 oi' the upper bellows downwardly is considerably greater than the force of spring 22 which, through the closure disk, urges wall 32 of the lower bellows upwardly. Consequently, with reduction of temperature and volume of the thermostatic iiuid the wall 29 of the upper bellows falls to a position wherein its farther downward movement is arrested by engagement of washer 4U with the top of cap 35; continued reduction of temperature and volume of the fluid effecting upward movement of wall 32 of the lower bellows, so that under the Vforce of spring 22 closure I8 is brought into engagement with its upper seat I9. In that position of the closure, ow through the valve is diverted from the main outlet I3 to a supplemental outlet 43 formed in the bottom of fitting 20. For a purpose hereinafter to be described. the valve casing has an additional passage 44 which, as is indicated by the broken line 45, may serve for passing to the main outlet fluid flowing from the supplemental outlet 43.

In normal operation of the valve the closure disk I8 is moved, by bellows 3I and bias spring 22, from engagement with one of its seats I8 and 2l into engagement with the other, in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the fluid in chamber 34. In such normal operation, no movement of the upper bellows 28 ocours because of the relative stiffness of spring 36 which functions as a static loading spring and yields only when the temperature of the thermostatic unit rises considerably above that for which it is set. By the arrangement disclosed, and because of the large area of the upper bellows 28, over-travel of the upper bellows is permitted even if the device is subjected to relatively high temperatures in shipment, or before installation inra control system for which it is adapted. Further, when the valve is employed in such as a refrigeration system, if pressure in the valve casing acting upwardly on the lower bellows 3I becomes excessive, by the arrangement disclosed the end wall of that bellows can rise to eiect closing of the valve main-outlet, even it the chamber 34 contains a solid fill of liquid,

4 By manipulation of the cap 35 the e'ective volume of chamber 34 can be increased or decreased to adjust the setting of the thermostatc operator. The cap 35 also serves another purpose: In the event that the thermostatic unit becomes defective due to substantial leakage of fluid from chamber 34, by screwing the cap downwardly the end wall 29 off the upper bellows is then moved downwardly therewith; the spring 36 remaining in its fully expanded condition (which is limited by washer 46 on stem 39) since, due to the leakage of iluid, there is no appreciable opposition to the expansion of the bellows. When the bellows wall 29 is close to the bottom of the cup-shaped member 26 it engages the tip of a rod 46 whose other end bears (by gravity) against the end wall 32 of the lower bellows; farther downward adjustment of cap 35 causing closure I8 to be forced into engagement with its lower seat, so that the valve is locked in this condition. The` rod 46 is a loose nt in openings 30 and 33, and is preferably hexagonal in cross-section so that it does not impede normal flow through these openings. In normal thermostatic operation of the valve the rod 46 obviously has no utility. 'If the thermostatic uid in chamber 34 is of the type which provides an elastic charge, the means described above for locking the valve in one position can be eifective irrespective of leakage of the fluid. f

Referring now to Fig. 2, the upper and lower portions of the valve shown in that iigure are identical with those of Fig. l and corresponding parts have therefore been assigned the same numerals in both gures. The normal thermostatic operation of the valves of Figs. 1 and 2 is the same, as well as the means at the top of the structures for adjusting the -thermostatc setting and for permitting over-travel of the upper bellows under abnormal temperature and pressure conditions. The only dlerence between the two forms of valve lies in the means for locking the valve means in one position in the event of substantial leakage of the thermostatic fluid, as was described in the preceding paragraph in connection with the structure of Fig. 1. In the arrangement of Fig. 1 the locking operation is performed manually, whereas by the arrangement of Fig. 2 the locking occursautomatically. In Fig. 2 the iinned cylinder, indicated by the numeral 24', is slightly modied by enlargement of the bore of the lower half thereof. Abutting the shoulder formed by this enlargement, and secured by solder in that position, is a disk 50 which forms the fixed end of an expansible-'contractible metallic bellows 5I whose' lower end is closed by another disk 52; the bellows being biased toward expanded position by a spring 53 compressed between the inner surfaces of its end walls.

The bellows 5i and its end walls together denne an additional sealed chamber in the interior of which is air, conveniently at atmospheric pressure, or a vacuum. The movable end wall, or disk, 52 of the additional chamber is subjected to the pressure ofthe thermally expansive fluid in the main chamber 34, the upper disk 50 being apertured as indicated at 54 to permit communication between all parts of the main chamber. The force of spring 53 is such that under the pressures established in the main chamber within the normal thermostatic range ofthe valve thebellows 5I is in compressed or contracted condition; inward movement of the end wall 52 being limited by a rod `55 arranged between'the walls 5D and. 52

and conveniently secured to the hitter; to thef underside of wall'. 52 is aV hexagonalrod 58 which; extends loosely through; the opming 30 in the lower cylinder-member 2d and terminates' bellows: 3l.' at a point slightly above the plane of the upperV valve seat. t91.

In normal operation of the' valvesllown Fig.. 2, theI closure disk [8i actuated; into and out ci engagement with itsuvpper' and' seats to control flow througli-` thepassages of the. valve casing in accordance with expansion and.' contraction of the fluid the main chamber si; bellows 5l remaining in. normal. compressed conditiom If this duid is in: the forme" of' an elastic; charge, the; bellows end-wall 32. can contimxe" to rise out of engagerm-int` the closure' after the same engages'its` upper seat E9 without altering the condition or the bellows 5f since the uuid pressure their acting' cnthe end wall'. 52 et the same is still surte-lent to overcome: the opposing force ofv spring' 53.

' However, in the arrangement oil Eig.- 2. it the fluid hr chamber 1st-*is1 a solid ll of liquid'r upon cooling of the: tberm'ostatic unitg. the closure diskA 'engages its upper' seattheforce of! spring-122 acting through the closure on the end; wall of bellows 3l is released, so that at that instant theliduid in chamber this no longer-under pressure and the bellows El? consequently starts tov expand under the force' offspring 53. I-lovvever,4 i-n expanding the bellows 5t reduces" the eile'ctive volume of the main. chamber 1M so that the" end wall; 32 of bellows 3l'- is returned into opposition spring. 2-2I through. the closure; the. eect bemg thatv until the' temperature and volume'. of chamber 34 again` increase the closuredish"` remains in suchy close relation to; its?` upper seat that only slight leakage past this seat can occur. lt is to be observed that' the workingy area of bellows 5|- is considerably Iargertha'n that' of' bellows 3`t, so that slight expansion of bellows' 5t ell'eets! rel-atively large expansion of bellows` When the' valveis connected in al refrigeration'system-in the manner shown in Fig. 3, as: will'l be described, the substantial stoppage of ow' ci refrigerant past the upper seat ITS soonr'esu-lts irl-rise oi. temperature of the therrncstatie unit so that the closure is again operated' to the position shown the drawing.

, In the event oi substantial leakage' o'l thermostatic fluid from chamber'@ ofthe valve errug-2; theresultant reduction or; elimination of the flu-ld pressurenorfnally acting inwalf ontlie'fend wall 52f oi bellows E1 l eiiects full expansion oil the' same under the force of spring 53 so' that thev rod- 55; through the end wall of' bellows 3h. forces' the closure against its' lower seat, hr which position it remains locked'.

In order to accomplish the automatic operation the manner described* in the preceding paragraph, it is obvious that the force of spring 53 `must bel greater than that of the closure` spring 2'2; but because of the difference of area oi'. the end Walls of bellows 3l and 5f the fluid pressure produced in chamber 34 by the lighter spring. 2'2 and acting on the end wall of bellows 5I' is more than sufcient to maintain bellows 5l in compressed condition during normal thermostatic operation of. the valve..

l It is to be observed that. automaticy locking of the valve will also occur the event ot rupture of bellows 5 l since, due tothe resultant equalizatorr of fluid pressure on both sides'.` oi the 'end wall 25, spring 53. is then effectivel to more the closure 6" disk: downwardly' against the weaker force of spring 22. f

It follows from thel foregoing' descrip-tion of. the automatic: locking operation that when,V in the control of a refrigeration system', it is desired to raise thetemperature setln'ng of the thermostatic valve of Eig. 2, the refrigeration system should be shut-oli until the temperature: of the thermostatic-'unthas reached: the higher setting' in order to prevent false operation of the locking means as the pressurel in chamber 3ft is reduced .(by upward adi'ustmentv of cap 35.) toenect the higher setting.

In the view of Fig 3,. the legend Thermostatic Control Valve indicates the valve shown in either Fig. l or' 2, The valve isA here: shown' connected im a: conventional refrigeration system adapted toi pass refrigerant through the coil 60 of a cool.- ing' unit, through. which unit air is circulated by a tan-1;' both of thelatter parts being indicated by legen-ds. The cooling unit is shown, by way oi'.

sample. mounted in an insulated compartment el' of the typev employedv for storing. meat.

The condensing unit of the system comprises a. compressor Se driven by an electric motor 63, a condenser Sd, and a receiver "35; The compressor motor is provided with the usual pressure switch, indicated by a legend, which, being connected tothe suction line of the system, isresponsivev to coil and crankcase pressure and acts to initiate ori-cycle of the system by starting the conrpressor when that pressure reaches a` predetermined maximum due tofrseoi temperature of the cooling unit, and to stop the compressor and thereby initiate the oil-cycle when the pressure falls to' a predetermined minimum.

TheA refrigerant control system to be described in connection with Fig. 3i is particularly adapted for use in a refrigeration system of the multicooling-unit type', and therefore addit'onall pipes 6'8 and 69 are shown connected respectively to the suction line BS and high-pressure line 61; the pipes 6B: and 63, it is to be assumed, leading to other cooling uni-ts similar to the one shown.

Ahead of the cooling unit in compartment et is an expansion valve, indicated by the legend, which may be of the conventional type which comprises valve means operatively connected to a diaphragm, one side of which is subjected to the pressure (acting in a direction to close the valve means) at the outlet or the valve- (and inlet of the evaporator coil), and whose other side is subjected: to the pressure (acting in a direction to open the valve means) produced by a charge of refrigerant contained in a thermal bulb lo con-f nected to the valve by a capillary tube 1i; a spring, whose force determines the superheat setting of the valve, biasing the valve means toward closed position. An expansion valve of this general character is disclosed in my Patent No.- 2`,327,542, issued. August 24, 1943. The thermal bulb. 'lll is shown-attached. by apertured straps 'l2 to the suction line 66. at the outlet. of coll 6U inthe usual manner.

The thermostatc control valve is shown ecn.- nected by its inlet fitting l5 to the outlet of the expansion valve; the main outlet of the thermostatic valve being connected to a pipe 'i3 which forms theinlet of coil to; From the supplemental outlet of the thermostatic valvey (indicated in Figs. l and 2 at d3) a tube' l extends in. thermal transfer relation to the thermal bulb lll, the' tube forming a. loop around thel bulb and-'being con- 75 at itszoutlet and to the additional passage,

7 indicated at 44 in Figs. l and 2, of the thermostatic valve.

It will be observed that the thermostatic valve is shown in Fig. 3 connected at the outlet of the expansion valve, instead of ahead of it as is customary in a conventional system employing a solenoid valve controlled by a thermostatic switch. In the system of this invention, when the temperature of the cooling unit is above that desired the thermostatic valve is in the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that refrigerant can pass substantially unrestriotedly to the cooling unit.

With fall of temperature of the cooling unit and corresponding fall of temperature of the air circulating past the thermostatic valve in the space or compartment El, the fluid in chamber 34 contracts so that the closure disk I8 rises into engagement with its upper seat, thereby obstructing direct flow of refrigerant to the evaporator coil. The lower seat 2! of the valve being uncovered, expanding refrigerant issuing from the expansion valve passes through the tube 'it in thermal transfer relation to the thermal bulb li so that the resultant cooling of the same effects prompt closing of the expansion valve. The amount of refrigerant passed through tube 74 to effect closing of the expansion valve is small and obviously has little effect upon the system. According to this invention, the outlet end of tube 'M could be connected to the suction line at the outlet of coil BB, but by passing the refrigerant from tube 'Ill to the iniet of the coil, as shown, its eifect is not wasted.

In the event of reopening of the` expansion valve while the thermostatic valve is in condition to divert refrigerant now to the supplemental outlet, prompt reclosing of the expansion valve is effected by the refrigerant passing through tube '14. YWith rise of temperature in the compartment Si the thermostatic valve will again be in condition to pass refrigerant directly to the cooling unit. In the control of a refrigeration system in the manner described, it is not essential for proper operation of the system that the closure of the thermostatic valve seat tightly, since slight leakage `of refrigerant past the upper or lower seat would have but negligible effect on the system.

In the control of a refrigeration system of the type disclosed, the thermally expansive fluid in the thermostatic valve is preferably in the form of a solid fill of liquid, since in that form it is affected less than an elastic charge of nuid would be by refrigerant pressures normally occurring in the system. However, in the event of establishment of excessive refrigerant pressure, as, for example, may occur after defrosting when refrigerant is passed to a relatively-warm cooling unit, the pressure of the refrigerant acting on bellows 3| effects upward movement of the closure and resultant closing of the expansion valve due to passage of refrigerant through tube 74, so that possible overloading of the compressor is averted. In the event of substantial leakage of fiuid from the thermostatic chamber of the valve, the valve is locked in one position, either manually or automatically as described in` connection with Fig. l and Fig. 2 respectively; the system then being in a safe condition, i. e., one in which the cooling is continued so that spoilage of the contents of the compartment is prevented, even a1- though an unnecessarily low temperature may result.

`The words coil and tube, as employed in theclaimsare intended to includeany means 8. constituting an equivalent passage for athe refrigerant in the cooling unit, and in thermal transfer relation to the thermostatic means oi the expansion valve, respectively.

The specific embodiments of my invention herein shown and described are obviously susceptible of modication without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I intend therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a refrigeration system: a unit for cooling a space and comprising an evaporator coil; means for passing refrigerant through said coil; an expansion valve for controlling passage of said refrigerant, and comprising means responsive to the temperature at the outlet of said coil for controlling the operation of this valve so that it closes with fall of temperature; means constituting a pipe connecting theoutlet of said expansion valve to the inlet of said coil; and means for controlling the operation of the expansion valve, comprising a tube connected at one of its ends to said pipe and extending in thermaltransfer relation to said coil-temperature responsive means, the other end of said tube being so connected to the system that refrigerant in the tube returns to the system; an additional valve for controlling flow through said tube of refrigerant entering said pipe when the expansion valve is open, and means responsive to the temperature of said space for operating said additional valve to open position with fall of spacetemperature so that the refrigerant then passing through said tube in thermal-transfer relation to said coil-temperature responsive means effects closing of said expansion valve.

2. In a refrigeration system: a unit for cooling a space and comprising an evaporator coil; means for passing refrigerant through said coil; an expansion valve for controlling passage of said refrigerant, and comprising means responsive to the temperature at the outlet of said coil for controlling the operation of this valve so that it closes with fall of temperature; means constituting a pipe connecting the outlet of said expansion valve to the inlet of said coil; and means for oontrolling the operation of the expansion valve, comprising an additional valve in said pipe and having an inlet, a main outlet leading to said coil, a supplemental outlet, as well as means operable to direct now from said inlet either to said main outlet or to said supplemental outlet, a tube connected at one of its ends to said supplemental outlet and extending in thermaltransfer relation to said coil-temperature responsive means, the other end of said tube being so connected to the system that refrigerant in the tube returns to the system, and means responsive to thertemperature of said space for so operating said additional valve as to direct flow of refrigerant therethrough to said supplemental outlet with fall of space-temperature, whereby when said expansion valve is open the refrigerant then passing through said tube in thermal-transfer relation to said coil-tempera-Y ture responsive means effects closing of the expansion valve.

3. A refrigeration system as defined in claim 2 and including means so connecting the other end of said tube in the system that the refrigerant from the tube passes into said evaporator coil.

4. In a refrigeration system: a unit for cooling a space and comprising an evaporator coil; means for passing refrigerant through said coil; an expansion valve for controlling passage of said atmete refrigerant into saidlcoil, and' comprising means responsive to the temperature at the outlet of the coil for controlling the operation of this valve so that it closes with fall of coil-outlet temperature; an additional valve for controlling dow from said expansion valve tov said coil and Ahavan inlet, a main .outlet leading to the coil, a supplemental outlet, and valve means operable to direct flow from said inlet either to said main outlet or to said supplemental outlet; a tube. connected at one of its ends to said supplemental outlet and extending in thermal-transfer relation to said coil-temperature responsive means, the other end of said tube being so connected to the system that refrigerant in the tube returns to the system; and a thermostatic device, responsive to the temperature of said space, for so operating said valve means as to direct iiow of refrigerant to said supplemental outlet when said space temperature falls below a predetermined degree, whereby when said expansion valve is open the refrigerant then passing through said tube in thermal-transfer relation to said coiltemperature responsive means eiects closing of the expansion valve, said thermostatic device comprising means defining a sealed chamber containing thermally expansive fluid and having a wall movable in accordance with the expansion and contraction of said iiuid for operating said valve means.

5. A refrigeration system as deiined in claim 4, and including means operable in the event of leakage of said thermally expansive fluid ior locking said movable Wall in a position wherein ilow through said additional valve is directed to said main outlet.

6. A refrigeration system as dened in claim 4, and including means operable in the event of leakage of said thermally expansive fluid for locking said movable wall in a position wherein iiow through said additional valve in directed to said main outlet; said locking means comprising an additional movable Wall for said thermostatic chamber, means accessible at the exterior of the thermostatic device for moving said additional Wall, and a mechanical interconnection for said movable walls whereby movement of the additional wall can effect movement of said first-mentioned movable Wall to its locked position.

7. A refrigeration system as dened in claim 4, and including a device comprising an additional movable Wall arranged so that it is subjected on one side to the pressure of said thermally expansive fluid, a mechanical connection whereby `movement of said additional wall in a direction opposing the pressure of said thermally expansive fluid can eiect movement of said valvemeans-operating wall to a position wherein flow through said additional valve is directed to said main outlet, and means so biasing said additional wall in said direction as to automatically eiect movement of the same in that direction in the event of reduction of pressure of the thermally expansive uid due to substantial leakage thereof.

8. In a thermostatic valve: a casing having a passage therethrough; valve means in said casing for controlling flow through said passage; means mounted on said casing and dening a sealed chamber; a charge of thermally expansive fluid in said chamber; said chamber-defining means having a rst wall, closing an opening in said casing communicating with said passage, movable in accordance with the expansion and contraction of said iiuid to operate said valve means; a secnd movable wall forming, at the exterior of said iii casing, part for said chamberrdeiining said Asecond wall being movable in a direction :to relieve excess pressure iin said chamber; a spring opposing movement of the .second 4wail in said ment ofthe second wall in an opposite direction;

a mechanical interconnection ior said movable walls; and manually-operable means fior moving said second `wall in said opposite direction so as to eff-ect, through said mechanical interconnection and said first wall, operation of said valve means; said mechanical interconnection being so arranged that it is inoperative in normal thermostatic operation of the valve means.

9. In a thermostatic valve: a casing having a passage therethrough; valve means in said casing for controlling flow through said passage; means mounted on said casing and dening a sealed chamber; a iill of thermally expansive liquid in said chamber; said chamber-defining means having a rst wall, closing an opening in said casing communicating with said passage, movable in accordance with the expansion and contraction of said liquid to operate said valve means; a second movable wall forming, at the exterior of said casing, part of said chamber-defining means; said second wall being movable in a direction to relieve excess pressure in said chamber; a spring opposing movement of the second Wall in said direction; stop means normally preventing movement oi the second wall in an opposite direction; manually-operable means for moving said second wall independently of said stop means so as to vary the capacity of said chamber and thereby adjust the thermostatic setting of the valve; and a mechanical interconnection for said movable walls whereby, in the event of substantial leakage of said liquid, movement of said second wall in said opposite direction can effect, through said mechanical interconnection and said rst wall, operation of said valve means; said mechanical interconnection being so arranged that it is inoperative in normal thermostatic operation of the valve means.

l0. A thermostatic valve as dened in claim 9, and wherein said movable walls are disposed opposite each other, and said mechanical interconnection comprises a rod arranged between the walls and oi a length less than the distance between the walls in the normal thermostatic range of the valve.

11. In a thermostatic valve: a casing having a passage therethrough; valve means in said casing for controlling flow through said passage; a tubular member mounted on said casing and dening a sealed chamber; a charge of thermally expansive fluid in said chamber; said tubular member having at one end a Wall, closing an opening in said casing communicating with said passage, movable in accordance with the expansion and contraction of said fluid to operate said valve means, the tubular member having at its other end another wall normally movable only in a direction to relieve excess pressure in the chamber and biased against movement in that direction; a sealed expansible-contractible bellows member within said tubular member and containing an elastic fluid at low pressure, said bellows member being closed at both ends and secured by one of its ends to the tubular member, the bellows member being submerged in the fluid in the chamber; the other end of the bellows member being movable, facing said movable wall, and having means operatively engageable therewith; and a spring in said bellows member urging said,

1 1i movable end of the same in the direction of said movable Wall but with a force insufficient to overcome the opposing pressure of said fluid occurring Within the normal thermostatic range of the valve, said spring acting, only in the event of reduction of pressure of the fluid due to substantial leakage thereof, to effect outward movement of said movable end of the bellows member and thereby, through said movable Wall, operation of said valve means to a predetermined position.

HAROLD J. MATTESON.

References Cited in the le of this patent' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Hoesel Oct. 6, 1936 MoCloy Oct. 25, 1938 Johnson et al. Nov. 10, 1942 Huggins July 11, 1944 Holmes Oct. 30, 1945 Platon May 31, 1949 

